Sports Writer

MICK MALTHOUSE has a problem, but it's a much more desirable dilemma than the one he was confronting in his comeback game on Sunday afternoon.

When Stephen Gilham kicked a goal seven minutes into the second half for Greater Western Sydney, Malthouse's new club were three goals behind and staring down the barrel of an unpalatable defeat.

Less than an hour later, the Blues, who played about two-thirds of their first-choice side in both games, had not only wrenched victory from the Giants but also handed the reigning premiers an unfriendly welcome to this year.

In the space of about 25 minutes of play in two games, the Blues, still adjusting to Malthouse's new plans, slammed on eight unanswered goals, and in doing so they may also have raised the expectations among a supporter base not renowned for their patience.

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''We're getting a bit confused with the two-game structures of this year and last year. We'll certainly need the three NAB Cups in front of us to iron out a few areas of concern,'' Malthouse said. ''This is the way I want to do it, and this is the way it's going to be. We can't have mixed game structures and plans.''

Form in February and early March is seldom an accurate pointer to the months ahead, though in Carlton's case their winless pre-season a year ago was followed by a thoroughly disappointing home-and-away campaign. The Blues have already bettered that but in this competition, where a team is judged by more than wins and losses, there was plenty for Malthouse to like.

One match of two 20-minute halves is an extremely small sample size to make a meaningful judgment of attitude but in coming back from 18 points down against the Giants they showed the initiative that was seldom evident last year. The horror loss to the Gold Coast, which ultimately cost Brett Ratten his job, being a case in point.

On Sunday, however, they were able to will themselves to victory - albeit against the wooden-spoon favourites - despite being lacklustre for much of the game. And, for a change, it was not Chris Judd, who sat out the game, leading the revival.

Sam Rowe, who made headlines last year for his fight against testicular cancer, was one of the lesser-known Blues to impress. He finished with two goals but it was his willingness to compete in the air and bring his smaller teammates into the game that could get him a game in round one - particularly if Jarrad Waite cannot shake his injury problems. ''It's a good story for football, he probably thinks every day is a bonus,'' Malthouse said. ''He attacks the ball hard and wants to be an AFL footballer.''

Other than kicking the match winner against the Giants, Levi Casboult also made a big impact - just ask GWS's Matt Buntine, who wore a knee to his ribs in a heavy clash. That incident might result in a late start to the season for the burly forward but his strong marking and aggression will add grunt to a forward line that lacked grunt last year.

Malthouse's teams have a reputation of attacking via the boundary line but it was his use of Bryce Gibbs that provided the greatest point of difference to Ratten. Gibbs played primarily in the midfield in both matches and showed his liking for it with nine possessions in each game.

Eddie Betts, the Blues' leading goalscorer, was also given a run in the middle by Malthouse.